Five Strategic Ways to Ease Your Tax Burden

Hopefully by now you have taken advantage of year-end tax saving tips that will put you in good shape for the 2009 tax season. There are many short-term fixes that can help reduce tax liability, including deferring recognized revenue and accelerating business expenses through the closing hours of 2008.

But the savvy entrepreneur will know that lowering your tax burden should be approached as a long term strategy that goes to the heart of your business structure, investments, and work methods.

Below are some fundamental long term business strategies and approaches that can help reduce your small business tax liability.

1. Select the Right Business Structure

Deciding on the right business structure for your company is a daunting task, but do it right and you can realize significant tax benefits. Start by educating yourself on the available structuring options and what the ramifications are for your business.

Choosing the right structure is a highly individual process that hinges on your current and anticipated finances and taxes. So it’s critical that you avoid making assumptions about the perceived tax savings associated with the various types of structures. What might work for your cousin’s business may not apply to yours. Read my blog post – Should I Incorporate My Small Business? – for more help on this topic.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) also offers a very useful Guide to Choosing a Small Business Structure that outlines the available options. But before you do anything, get expert advice – talk to an accountant or tax consultant before making your final decision. Once you have made your decision you’ll need to register your business.

2. Take Advantage of Tax Deductions for Energy Efficiency

Not only can you get grants and loans from the government for making green upgrades to your business, you can get tax deductions and credits too.

A tax credit can provide significant savings by reducing the amount of income tax you have to pay. Unlike a deduction, which reduces the amount of income subject to tax, a tax credit directly reduces the tax itself.

This article from NFIB also offers some great tips and tricks for greening your business with the latest technology.

3. Hire Independent Contractors

Using independent contractors instead of hiring employees can reduce your payroll taxes, which can often add 20-30 percent to payroll costs per employee.

These self-managed freelancers can help meet small business project deadlines or support specialized tasks such as marketing, IT, accounting, etc. They can also free you from many administrative tasks such as withholding taxes, benefits, etc.

Be cautious, however, as business owners can face costly penalties for misclassifying employees as independent contractors, and the definitions are not as black and white as they may seem. Read my earlier blog post – Working with Independent Contractors: Understanding Tax Requirements – to ensure your business is complying with government regulations regarding the classification and use of independent contractors.

4. Know Your Deductibles

From operating a home-based business to using your personal vehicle for company use, small business tax write offs can have many benefits, including lowering your taxable gross income and earned income, which may increase your earned income credit.

Whether you prepare your own taxes or work with a tax professional, the right amount of planning will get you all the deductions you deserve. The government offers straightforward guidance as to which expenses qualify as tax deductible. You can also check out my blog post – Tax Deduction 101 for Small Business – for more tips.

5. Talk To Someone Who Can Help

Starting your own business and operating it to ensure the maximum amount of profit within the law is quite often not possible without the help of a tax specialist or business advisor. Of course, these professionals can be expensive.

There are alternatives and it’s a good idea to seek out some of the free tax guidance and support offered by Uncle Sam. The government’s Business Gateway venture, through its Business.gov Web site, has many resources available that can help small business owners understand how best to take advantage of tax-lowering strategies.

In addition, there are many in-person or online resources available to the small business owner. Here’s a summary of a few:

In-person Resources – The SBA provides free and low-cost business counseling, training, and development help across the U.S. Find one near you here. You can also take advantage of SBA resource partners including SCORE business advisors.